Years and years ago I bought a cassette tape (that is how long ago it was) of Anne Sexton reading her work (that is how much of a poetry nerd I am). This particular poem was on that tape and it was amazing. She has the most amazing, gritty voice. The way she read “Music Swims Back to Me” really brought it home. The poem really needs to be heard.
The Poem that Sexton is most famous for, and that gets into most of the anthologies is “Her Kind.” This is another one of my favorites.
I did a bit of sleuthing around on Google and found this page. I think this is the same recording I had on cassette. The version of ”Her Kind” on this recording is the one that I remember and it’s absolutely haunting. ”Music Swims Back to Me” is on the same recording at the 5:40 mark. It is first recording on the list. Take a moment and have a listen by clicking here. In the name of National Poetry Month. You won’t be disappointed. I promise.
I wanted to participate in National Poetry Month so I made a video of myself reading a Pantoum I wrote last year. The poem is from an old letter I found in my mom’s genealogy files years ago. It was written to my grandmother when she was researching our family history and it is written by a woman whose husband died. She starts the letter casually and then goes into detail about the the day her husband died and how it happens. It has always haunted me.
When I was in my poetry writing phase last year I was interested in working with the pantoum. I realized that if I took lines from this letter and worked it into this form it might make a good poem. After being there for the death of my step-dad a few months ago I can say that this is a really good form for this theme. When you witness the death of a loved one your thoughts are scattered. You try to have normal conversations but when the subject goes to “how are you doing” all you can think about is your loved one and how they died. At least that was my experience.
I hope you enjoy my poem. I’m kind of shy about sharing so this is kind of a big deal for me. I almost chickened out but I’m going to just put it out there because poetry is meant for sharing.
The weekend after my birthday Raf and I stayed in Ocean Park for the weekend. We spent some time walking around Oysterville, an old fishing village, and had a great time learning about all of the old houses. We discovered the Oysterville Graveyard and wandered around it for awhile. I took a few pictures of the graves, the one above being one of them. What a weird grave site. I mean, seriously. WTF. The place felt kind of haunted as it was and to stumble upon this grave with a baby doll laying atop it was unsettling. But it was also kind of funny too. I don’t know, maybe I just have a dark sense of humor. I think I do.
It’s April, which means it’s National Poetry Month! I’ve also learned that it is NaPoWriMo as well, from one of my Twitter friends, Toni (check out the poem she wrote!) I love the idea and I may try my hand but I doubt I’ll be able to write a poem a day. However, I would like to celebrate the month by sharing some poetry I’ve written. I did a quick video of myself reading a poem that I wrote last year that I will post in the next few days. I need to edit it down a bit in iMovie (which I have no clue how to use) and then I will upload it.
In the meantime, happy National Poetry Month! Please take some time to read and share a few of your favorite poems. I’d love to hear what your favorites are!
